Closure hinge



Nov. 27, 1956 Filed March '7, 1952 O. C. GESSLER CLOSURE HINGE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 tornegs j@ a. u

Nov. 27, 1956 o. c. GEssLER CLOSURE HINGE 2" Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March7, 1952 United States Patent O CLOSURE HINGE Otto C. Gessler, Detroit,Mich. Application March 7, 1952, Serial No. 275,263 1 Claim. (Cl.16-190) This invention relates to closure hinges and, in particular, toclosure hinges made of stampings such as are employed in motor vehiclebodies.

One object of this invention is to provide a closure hinge which isassembled from simple sheet metal stampings which may be inexpensivelymanufactured individually and united by simple spot welding operations.

Another `object is to provide a closure hinge `of the foregoingcharacter wherein the stampings may be produced without the need forelaborate dies or expensive equipment so that they may be made in anysmall stamping shop on stamping presses of moderate size.

Another object is to provide a closure hinge of the foregoing character,the parts of which are easily assembled by comparatively unskilledlabor, united by simple spotwelding operations, and attached to thevehicle body by simple and inexpensive operations on the assembly line.

Other Objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly lin vertical section, of a hinge,according to one form of the invention, in use with a closure lid;

Figure 2 is a bottom Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an approximately vertical cross-section taken along the line3 3 in Figure l;

Figure 4 is an approximately vertical cross-section taken along the line4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an approximately vertical cross-section taken along the line5 5 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of a hinge,according to another form of the invention, in use with a closure lid;

Figure 7 is a top Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an approximately vertical section taken along the line 8-8in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the-hinge bracket assembly shown inFigures 6 to 8 inclusive;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a hinge bracket assembly according toa still further form of the invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective View of a hinge bracket assembly, slightlymodied from that of Figure l0;

Figure 12 is a bottom plan View of a still further modification of thehinge shown in Figure 7; and

Figure 13 is a perspective View of a further modification of the hingearm of the hinge shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a closure hinge,generally designated 10, according to one form of the invention andconsisting generally of a hinge arm assembly 11, and a hinge bracketA12. The hinge arm assembly 11 is secured, as described hereafter, to aclosure 13, such as an automobile trunk lid of convention construction,and the hinge bracket 12 is secured to the frame 14 adjoining theclosure 13. M-ovably connecting the hinge arm assemblby 111 and thehinge bracket 12 is a plan view :of the hinge shown in plan view of thehinge shown in rice spring 15, the ends 16 of ywhich are mounted ingenerally similar cylindrical rocking bearings 17.

Included in the hinge arm assembly 11 are two substantially parallelelongated arm members 18, each of which is provided at one end with amounting flange 19 bent perpendicular to the said arm member andinwardly toward the corresponding arm member 18. When the hinge armassembly 11 is assembled, the two mounting flanges 19 overlap each other(Figure 5) and are secured to each other as at 20 by spot welding or anysuitable means. Holes 21 are bored through the mounting flanges 19 andfasteners 22 are inserted therethrough for securing the hinge armassembly 11 to the reinforcement panel 23 located inside or beneath theouter covering 24 of the closure lid 13, holes being bored in the saidreinforcement panel to receive the fasteners 22. Weld nuts 25 may besecured to the inner side of the reinforcement panel 23 to receive thefasteners 22, and lock washers 26 are also provided.

`Each of the arm members 18 is dished as at 27 (Figure 2) forstrengthening purposes. At the other end of each of the said arm membersis a circular outwardly-dished portion 28, through which is bored a hole29 to receive either end of a tube or bearing sleeve 30 extendingbetween the ends of the arm members 13. Passing through the bearingsleeve 30 and through holes 31 (Figure 3) bored in the side portions 32of the hinge bracket 12 is a fastener 33 provided with a nu-t 34 and alock washer 35. By means of this fastener 33, the hinge arm assembly 111is pivotally mounted within the hinge bracket 12.

Secured between the arm members 18 by spot welding or any suitable meansis a curving spacer or spring support arm 36, U-shaped in cross-sectionhaving sides 37 and back 38 (Figure 4). This spring support arm 36separates the arm members 18 and provides them with additional rigidity,and supports one end 16 of the spring 15 by cradling or rockinglyreceiving one of the rocking bearings 17 in a dished portion 39 (Figurel) of approximately semi-cylindrical configuration, located in the back3S near the end 40 of said spring support arm. Extending down throughthe back 38 and the dished portion 39 from the end 40 is a slot 41through which the end 16 ofthe spring 15 passes.

The hinge bracket 12 is of approximately box-shaped configuration havingthe top and one end open. Besides its side portions 32, it includes abottom 42 and a broader back or rear portion 43, the edges of which restagainst the rear edges of the side portions 32 as at 44 (Figure 2) andmay be welded or yotherwise secured thereto, if so desired. The saidrear portion is an extension of the bottom 42, which is bent as at 45(Figure l). The side portions 32 are notched as at 26 to permit thisbending and broadening. The rear portion 43 is furnished with aninwardly-extending dished portion 47 of approximately semi-cylindricalconfiguration, similar to the dished portion 39 of the lspring supportarm 36, Cradled or rockingly received in the dished portion 47 is one ofthe two rocking bearings 17, the other of said rocking bearings beingsimilarly positioned in the `dished portion 39, as previously described.Either end 16 of the spring 15 is mounted in each of the rockingbearings 17 by being passed through a hole 48 in each of said rockingbearings and bent to prevent the tension of the spring 15 fromwithdrawing the said ends therefrom.

Each of the two side portions 32 or" the hinge bracket 12 is providedwith a mounting ange 49 bent perpendicularly thereto. These mountingflanges 49 are provided with holes 54) to receive the fasteners 51, bymeans of which the hinge bracket 12 is secured to the reinforcementpanel 52 of the frame 14, located inside or beneath the outer covering53 (Figure l) ofthe said frame. Holes are bored in the reinforcementpanel 52 to receive the fasteners 51 and weld nuts 54 `are secured tothe innerv side of the reinforcement panel 52 to receive the fasteners51.

As previously stated, the closure 13 andthe frame 14 are of conventionalconstruction, and the frameA 14 is provided with a trough 55, the bottomof which is linedl with a rubber gasket 56. When the closure 13 is in aclosed position, its bent edge S7 rests against the gasket' 5'6.

In the operation of the hinge 10, let it be assumed that the parts arelin their closed positions shown in Figures l and 2. To open the trunk,baggage compartment or other enclosure, the operator raises the lid 13which swings upward around the pivot bolt 33 of the arm 11 as an axis.Meanwhile, the spring 15, which is under tension in the closed positionof the lid 13, acts as a counter'- balance for a portion of the weightof the lid 13 and therefore reduces the amount of effort which theoperator is required to apply in lifting the lid 13. The curvature ofthe arm 17 enables it to clear the edge of the lid opening and to beswung into a raised position, permitting access to the compartment towhich the lid 13 is attached.

The modified hinge construction, generally designated 60, shown inFigures 6 to 9 inclusive is shown as attached to a frame 14 and lid 13respectively of substantially the same construction as that shown inFigure l, and secured in a similar manner. Accordingly, similarreference numerals are employed for corresponding parts. In Figures 6 to8 inclusive, however, a pair of counterbalancing springs are employed asdescribed below, in place 4of the single spring 15 of Figures 1 to 5inclusive. The construction of the hinge arm 11 is likewisesubstantially the same as in Figure 1. In Figure 6, however, the springanchorage member 61 is of slightly different construction although stillbeing lJ-shaped with sides 62 and a connecting or bridge portion 63. Thelatter is provided with a pair of holes 64 through which the bentrearward ends 65 of the two tension springs 66 are attached. The bentforward ends 67 of the same springs 66 are hooked through holes 68 in anapproximately triangular plate 69, a third hole 70 being provided forthe attachment of a spring stretching apparatus for use in assemblingthe device. The plate 69 is mounted on the upper and forward end 71 ofan arm 72, and for this purpose the plate 69 is provided with a notch 73(Figure 7) which engages a corresponding notch 74 in the arm end 71, thenose 75 of which projects beyond the notch 74 to restrain the triangularplate 69 against moving upward. The lower end 76 of the arm 72 is passedthrough a hole or slot 77 in the bottom or connecting portion 42interconnecting the side portions 32 of the hinge bracket 12, abent-over tab 78 engaging the bottom `of the connecting portion 42underneath the slot 77 (Figure 8).

The assembly of the hinge 60 and its attachment to the frame 14 and lid13 of the vehicle body are similar to that of the hinge of Figures 1 to5 inclusive, except for the attachment of the springs 66 which hasalready been described above. The operation of the bracket 60 is alsosimilar to that of the bracket 10 in that the two tension springs 66,being assembled in a tensioned condition, absorb a part of the effortwhich would otherwise have to be exerted by the operator in raising thelid 13, by counterbalancing a portion of the weight thereof.

The modified hinge bracket, generally designated 80, shown in Figure 10,is generally similar to the hinge bracket 12 shown in Figures 1 and 9,except that the spring-holding arm 72, instead of being inserted througha slot in the hinge bracket and anchored with a tab, is now providedwith a straight lower portion 81 which is seated in a groove 82 formedby bending portions 83 downward parallel to one another at the bends S4and 85 respectively. In assembly, the straight lower portion 81 ispushed downward into the groove 82 and anchored therein by spot welding,as at 86. The operation of the hinge as a whole is the same as thatdescribed in. con-v nection with Figures 6 to 9 inclusive and hencerequires no repetition.

The further modified hinge bracket 90 shown in Figure ll is identical inconstruction with the hinge bracket Figure l0, except that the straightportion 81 of the arm 72 is additionally provided with a tab 91 at itslower end, the tab 91 being passed through a slot 92 at the bent portionor ridge beneath the groove 82 and turned back upon itself to anchor thearm 72 securely in position with or without the additional aid of spotwelding. The assembly and operation of the hinge bracket and theoperation of the hinge as a` whole is the same as that described inconnection with the hinge 60 of Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, hence requiresrio-repetition.

rlhe still further modified hinge bracket assembly, generally designated100, shown in Figure 12 is almost identical with that of Figures 6 to 9inclusive except that it employs only a single tension spring 101 inplace of the double springs 66' and a pair of arms 102 in place of. thesingle arm 72. The arms 102 are -similarly notched at their upper ends103 to receive notched portions 104 in the spring anchorage plate 105,which is provided with a hole 10'6 for receiving the hooked forward end107 of the spring 101, the hooked rearward end 108 `of which is insertedthrough a single hole (not shown) in the center of the U-shap'ed' springanchorage member 63. The arms 102, like their counterpart 72, have tabs109 at their lower ends 110, the tabs 109 being passed through similarslots (not shown) in the bottom portion 49 of the bracket 12. Theassembly, use and operation of the hinge bracket assembly 100, exceptfor the use of a single tension spring 101, is substantially the same asthat described in connection with Figures 6 to 9 inclusive and hencerequires no repetition.

The modified hinge arm assembly, generally designated 120, shown inFigure 13, is for the same purpose as the hinge arm assembly 11, and isof generally similar construction except at its upper rearward end whereit is attached to the lid 13. It has parallel arcuate side members 121dished intermediately at 122 for reinforcement purposes and providedwith coaxial holes 123 at their forward ends for receiving the pivotbolt 33. The spring anchorage member 124 is substantially identical inconstruction with the member 36 of Figures l to 5 inclusive and itsdetails are therefore similarly designated with similar referencenumerals and. require no duplication of discussion. The rearwardportions 125, however, of the arm assembly are bent toward one anotherwith substantially parallel end. portions 126 which are secured as at127 to the opposite sides of a tab 128 which is struck downward out ofan opening 129 in the reinforcement panel 23' of the lid' 13. Theoperation of a hinge equipped with the modified hinge arm 120 of Figure13 is similar to that of the hinge 10 described in connection withFigures l to 5 inclusive, hence requires no repetition.

What I claim is:

A motor vehicle body hinge comprising a hinge bracket of bent sheet.metal of approximately U-shaped crosssection having a pair oflaterally-spaced parallel side walls with av connecting wall integraltherewith and extending therebetween and with laterally-extendingattachment angesinteg-ral therewith and extending laterally from saidside walls parallel to a sectiony of said connecting wall, and a firstspring lanchorage on said connecting wall; a pivot element mounted onand extending between the sid-f: walls of said hinge bracket; a hingearm structure of bent sheet metal having laterally-spaced parallel hingearms pivotally mounted at their outer ends on said pivot elementadjacent and parallely to the side walls of said hinge bracket, andhaving aV spring anchorage member of bent sheet metal of approximatelyU-shaped cross-section with substantially parallel side walls connectedto said hinge armsv and: with. an integral bridge wall extending betweensaid sidewalls, said spring. anchorage member having a opposite ends tosaid spring anchorage-s and extending therebetween.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,573,231 Economides Feb. 16, 1926 6 Lavigne Jan. 23, 1940 Murrin Dec.10, 1940 Soss Mar. 10, 1942 Roethel Feb. 15, 1944 Vigmostad Aug. 16,1949 Roethel Feb. 27, 1951 Borchers et al Dec. 30, 1952

